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YOUTH ARE AWESOME

Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth. YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them. Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.

Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.

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A Word on YYC Votes 2017

Asha Nenshi Nathoo
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My municipal election experiences over the last few months have been filled with many moments – happy, sad, exciting, and disappointing. From a young age, I have been exposed to politics and campaigns, but for me this particular election was special. It was the first time I was old enough to truly understand and contribute my own time and expertise as a volunteer.

I have to say that over the last three months, what I’ve been exposed to, seen first hand and taught has been like nothing else before. Volunteering on an election campaign has been a huge learning experience because I have engaged in so many activities I never would have done otherwise. I was pushed out of my comfort zone whether it be through knocking on strangers’ doors or learning how to operate a voter identification database. Most importantly, I was inspired by so many individuals, regardless of whether they were working on the same campaign as me or not. Over the last few months I have met so many engaged citizens who are deeply passionate about making this city a better place. And, for that I am thankful.

However, to be completely honest, not everything during this campaign was positive. I also saw a whole lot of hatred. Not only in the mayoral race, but also in multiple councillor and school board trustee races. There were racist comments, threats made, and vandalism of signs and offices. Personally, I greatly appreciate the democratic country in which I live where all citizens are given the opportunity to vote for who they like and even run for elected office themselves if they wish. I think its great when people have different opinions and the freedom to debate on what is best for their city. I believe that is what elections should be all about; platforms, and policies. What made me most upset on multiple occasions during this election, was when it become about personal attacks towards candidates or their volunteers rather than ideas. Every one of us has the right to express our opinions, but I think the biggest takeaway from this election for me was that we must always remember to do so in a respectful way.

In the end, after investing so much in this election, I am proud of my city. I am extremely pleased that over 58% of eligible voters came out to cast their ballots; the highest voter turnout our city has seen in a municipal election in more than 40 years.

Being a young female of a minority race who is passionate about getting involved in community, it made me happy that we elected one more female councillor than last term, and a more diverse City Council in general.

Finally, I’d like to say congratulations to all of the returning and new Calgary City Council members! You have all worked extremely hard to get to where you are today. I wish you great luck and success in the next four years!

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A post about Connections (and an update on life in IB)

Jesse Lee
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Connections are everything, good luck trying to get anywhere without them.

So what are connections? It’s when you’re friends with people all around the community, when your friend circles are large and diverse. If you asked my introverted grade 9 self, you would get an answer along the lines of, “Intelligence is everything. Who you know does not matter, as it is what you know that makes you truly successful.” However, entering high school made me realize how important the people you knew were. If you can create a group of people that share same interests as you and have the same mindset as you, then you are already doing great in high school.

There are perks that come with connections. For example, I wanted to get into the community of debate and Model UN, but I could not do it on my own. There were people already in that particular field that I could learn and receive guidance from. Me realizing that connections in high school were important might’ve been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You can be the best doctor in the world, but no one would ever know if you didn’t have people that see it. You could be the best lawyer ever, but it will be hard to get hired if you don’t have people already working in the field. Connections unleash the potential stored in you, and makes your abilities go to their limit.

 

Update On My IB Experience

Week of October 14th: Oh no, my science marks dropped below 90, what do I do, I guess I’ll just procrastinate on homework because that has always proven to be something I could rely on in my junior high years right?” Wrong, and my suffering marks do just enough to prove it. Also, who knew that you actually had to “participate” in gym, who even does that anymore these days?

You know what? Maybe I can just try hard enough again and bring my marks up to the 90s, I mean, what else does an IB student do other than study and study?

Should I just give a grade 10 point of view on the over-hyped topic of IB, would people actually care? 😛

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Me Ranting About Things (Part 2)

Hilary Guo
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Hi guys, I’m back with more rants! I hope you’re all ready for this one because I’m going to be releasing all my “two-months-into-high-school” frustration. Going into high school, in my opinion, is an experience that you could try to explain but could never understand completely unless you’ve been there. It’s more of a feeling rather than a description. And here are these feelings, without further ado, welcome to the life of an AP student.

For some reason, in high school, time seems to pass by ten times slower. The first day seemed like forever ago even though it had only been a matter of a couple of weeks. I remember the very first day of class; I thought it was so hard like nothing would ever be as difficult as that very first class. MAN, WAS I WRONG.  Looking back, the first day of class was actually the easiest. If I could ever go back in time, I would hit myself for every time I complained about school in Jr. High or elementary. I had no clue what real hardship was. But, I swear, in the future when I’m in university, I will be laughing at how hard I thought high school is. I guess that’s just how it goes, but for now, let me rant about high school.

THERE’S SO MUCH STUFF TO KNOW. There is so much information!! And!! This term!! I have social, math and science AP!!! I have so much work to do consistently, but you can catch me watching Netflix almost all the time. Procrastination is a witch and she’s back at it again. Honestly, I’ve lost track of how many quizzes I’ve had to do. The only subject that I’m not freaking out in is gym. In science AP, there’s probably about three things I actually understand. I’M SO LOST. I don’t even know what I don’t know. WHAT EVEN IS A CELL?? I! DON’T! KNOW! The only thing I know about biology is that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell!! I literally can’t.

I have to balance studying, sports and piano?? IT’S HARDER THAN IT SOUNDS TRUST ME. And, not to mention, I’m supposed to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep?? HOW? I DON’T UNDERSTAND!! IT’S ONLY BEEN TWO MONTHS! WHAT EVEN?!

Me when I was little: *gets a 95* hm, okay.

Me now: *gets a 95* wow, first off, I’d just like to thank Jesus for blessing me with this grade. *wipes tear*

And if you miss a day of class, mind as well just have missed an entire chapter! I do not understand the people who skip because I cannot afford that kind of stunts. HONEY, if I skipped even just half a class, I’d come back to 5864 pages of notes and 32 textbook questions due for tomorrow. Like, you wanna skip? Okay, you better hope that Superman comes with you because I don’t know how you’re going to catch up on all that class you missed. My camera roll used to be full of selfies and pictures of friends, now it’s all notes.

OH? You wanna hang out?? Here, let me just check my schedule real quick… Sorry, but from today until the last day of school, I’m studying for the 54 tests I have. THEORETICALLY, I SHOULD BE BUSY WITH ALL THE WORK I HAVE TO DO BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW, I ALWAYS FIND THE TIME TO BE WATCHING A NEW TV SHOW OR STALKING PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA!! AND ALSO, SLEEP IS NO LONGER A CHOICE BUT A PRIVILEGE. MY MOTIVATION TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING IS TO THINK ABOUT HOW IN ABOUT 15 HOURS, I CAN SLEEP AGAIN.

But for real though, I think I’m doing alright in school. Lately, I’ve just been obsessed with my grades to the point where I’m checking my grades online every ten minutes. My mom always asks me who I’m texting but I’m like “lol, my grades”. You can catch me dying/crying inside when I get an 80% instead of a 90%. “School doesn’t even matter,” I say as I finish all my homework and study for the next ten quizzes. “I don’t even care about grades,” I say as I shed a tear for that one 83% two weeks ago. IT’S HARD, SCHOOL IS COMPLEX. I NEED A SIX MONTH VACATION TWICE A YEAR!!

That’s life of an AP student for you. This rant will be continued later, stay tuned!

source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4

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On Avoiding Exercise

Nikoo Givehchian
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‘Oh, I’m strictly a nerd. Thus, I’m actually obliged to refrain from exercise.’

For many years now, I’ve been guilty of using this line or something similar to justify the lack of exercise in my life. Though the truth may or may not simply be that I’m too busy or lazy to be bothered with exercise, I’ve found it more fulfilling, and more humourous at times, to suggest that my lack of exercise is due to my fitting into the stereotype often associated with bookish people like myself. This stereotype is quite untrue, however- I’m sure we all know people who excel in athletics just as much as they do in academics, and so while my excuse may invoke a couple of chuckles, it cannot be used as a legitimate reason to avoid exercise.
 
In fact, I can no longer avoid exercise (ironically because of the IB nerd that I am). Though IB students may commonly be seen as kids who do naught but study, there actually is this pesky little thing called CAS (creativity, ACTION, service) that we have to fulfill in the event that we actually want our IB diploma. If you haven’t already heard IB kids (especially desperate grade 12s like myself) complain about this, you will, and trust me, you will tire of it, so I suppose I’ll move on.
 
The reality is, exercise is necessary for all of us to live a healthy life. Whether we like it or not, we need to take care of our bodies in order to live the way we want to (not to mention eat the food we want to), and so we are all obliged to incorporate at least a little exercise into our daily lives. I like to think that my brain is my favourite part of my body, as it’s where my being is largely centred, and the idea of losing it truly terrifies me. Knowing this, I’ve tried to motivate myself to exercise by telling myself my brain depends on it. Sadly, this alone hasn’t quite inspired me to exercise, and really, it’s only now that I have no choice due to CAS that I’m seriously looking to get involved in athletics. I’m actually quite grateful that now I have to exercise though, and I hope that not only will I start strongly now, but I will also continue to exercise for a long time.
 
Another idea I’d like to discuss is that of inspiration. I was inspired to exercise for my brain’s sake- but I didn’t do it. I was inspired to become a strong athlete when I saw strong athletes compete in shows such as American Ninja Warrior- but I didn’t. There have been so many places from which I could draw inspiration to exercise, and yet my own reluctance to do so led me away from it, no matter the strength of the inspiration. Even if I did begin doing a few sit-ups a day for a short period of time, I gave up soon after, and so it appears that my nature really is to avoid exercise. I wonder, then, just how much people can really do to make themselves start an activity they don’t want to do, and just how much power we really have to motivate ourselves to start.
…
But of course, this isn’t something to just think about and do nothing on- I have, after all, seen many people successfully motivate themselves to begin exercising. My dwelling on the matter is another sort of excuse I use to procrastinate exercising… so I guess I might as well get started!
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On the miracle that is silent practice

~ Chu ☆ ~
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Being a musician with poor time management, and too many things to do, it’s really difficult to find quality time to practice. Between school, extracurriculars, and then coming home to homework and sleeping family members, I gotta admit that I often put off practice when it’s inconvenient.

(source)

But those days are over. There are no more excuses to put off practicing, because of a silent house, thinly walled motel room, or fussy room-mate. Because you’re about to learn about a lifesaver known as silent practice.

Now, I’ve heard a lot about silent practice, and mental practice, and all these “revolutionary” methods, most of which I used to regard as pseudoscientific bogus. Being more of a traditionalist when it comes to music, I always believed that truly effective practice warranted immediate response, and feedback from the instrument, as musicality is a fickle, and ever changing variable. So how, then, could it be possible to develop those skills without actually playing the instrument?

But as it turns out, sometimes silence can be golden, even in a discipline such as music. From studying scores, to technique exercises, to investing in a “silent instrument”, there are really effective ways to practice without having to bother the unfortunate individuals in your vicinity. Even professional musicians swear by some of these methods.

Of course, being a bit of a skeptic, despite all the attestations, I was always a bit dubious about the real results of this method. Testimonies, of course, can be easily manipulated, and coerced. But all the while, it was the night before a big band test, and there was no way my family was going to be happy with the piercing sound of an alto saxophone at midnight repeating a scalal sequence over and over again. So I built my saxophone, left out the reed, and decided to give it a go.

The night of, if I’m being honest, I didn’t feel the difference, except for that it was driving me a little bit nutty not being able to hear what I was playing. Although I was singing the scale in my head, when saxophone keys click, the air from the key being pressed creates a tone, but not necessarily the note that would sound had I been playing it, so my “scale” sounded like it was jumping around all over the place. I spent about an hour going over fingerings, using my usual techniques; section practice, tempo increases, etc, until I frankly, got too tired, and accepted the fact that my performance on this test was going to be mediocre at best, and decided to just go to bed.

Clearly, I wasn’t feeling too chuffed when I walked into band the next day and built my instrument. But when I ran through, I found that I could just blast through it without even thinking about it. And when it came to my turn, I was playing it double my original speed, calmly, and clearly, and I thought: “so maybe silent practice does work…”

(source)

So if you’re in the same position I often find myself in, how can you practice without being disruptive?

Studying scores
One of the easiest ways to practice without actually picking up your instrument is to really get to know the music you’re playing. This works especially well for travelling, be it long car rides, or flights, it’s easy to whip out your sheet music, and learn your piece without being disruptive. Whether it’s analysing structures and patterns, or following along with a recording of the piece, studying the score really helps to familiarize yourself with what you’re playing

William Mengelberg’s score of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony (source)
Imaginative practice
This is one of the stranger sounding ones, and it’s not something I would recommend trying in public, but sometimes, it can be extremely effective to vividly visualize practicing your instrument. Focus on how your fingers move, or how your breathing may change, and even mime those movements without your instrument. Work on how a certain phrase might be shaped, or how different phrases fit together, and how you can achieve that. I did this constantly back when I still played piano, and although it may seem frustrating at first that your fingers might not do what your brain wants them to, you’re making more familiar neural connections, making muscle memory easier.
Technique exercises
I know this is one of the more mundane aspects of being a musician, but technique is very much the foundation needed to build musicality upon. Technique is easy to practice without your instrument, be it finger stretches, building muscle memory, practicing bow turns, or working on breath control. Furthermore, it is more beneficial long term, as technique is applicable to everything you play, rather than just studying the score of a single piece you’re working on

(source)
Rhythm exercises
Again, not the most exciting part of music, but once again, it is a crucial base, and once a rhythm is learned, it can be applied to everything you do. Rhythm exercises are probably the most easily practiced with no resources. From finger drumming on a desk, to tapping your feet on the train, to gently clapping a rhythm to learn, or reinforce, it’s useful, and accessible to rehearse.

So with that, I hope you never catch yourself thinking “it’s inconvenient, I’ll do it tomorrow…” Because playing an instrument doesn’t have to be disruptive. So if you’re questioning the great question “To practice, or not to practice”, simply follow the chart below:

 

 

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What To See In YYC: October 27-31, 2017

Rosie Zhao
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It’s the weekend before Halloween, so we can count on there being many annual spooky events going on throughout the city! While the temperature is still [barely] above freezing, it’s a good idea to go out with friends and see what’s going on this weekend. Even if the jumpscares, pumpkins and horror movies aren’t for you, there are still other events that you can go and enjoy among the festivities— if you currently don’t have plans, then you’ve come to the right place!

Haunted Calgary

When: October 27, 28, 31 – Low Scare 2:00 pm-4:00 pm, Full Scare 6:00 pm-10:00 pm

Where: 222 Rocky Ridge Bay NW, Calgary AB

Cost: Based on donation (Suggested: $10 and a canned food item)

Website: https://www.hauntedcalgary.org/

The biggest haunted yard attraction in the city is back to scare Calgarians since starting in 1987. This year, the haunted house’s theme is Hollywood Horror. This event goes towards a great cause, as the attraction is built entirely by volunteers and proceeds support the Oops-a-Dazy Rescue and Sanctuary Society and Calgary Food Bank. With the varied levels of jumpscares and its proximity to the Tuscany LRT Station, it’s a great way to get involved in the Halloween festivities while supporting charity! Check out their website to view photos of the haunted house from previous years!

A Night of Stargazing at Ralph Klein Park

When: October 28 from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Where: Ralph Klein Park, 12350 84 Street SE, Calgary AB

Cost: Free

If you’re looking to unwind and lose yourself in the night sky, head on over to Ralph Klein Park to view constellations, galaxies, and planets through outdoor telescope stations provided by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. This event is free, doesn’t require pre-registration, and offers complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and tea provided you bring your own mug— what’s not to like? See the event listing on Facebook here.

Halloween Howler

Halloween Howler at Grey Eagle Event Centre

When: October 28, starts at 8:00 pm

Where: Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, 3777 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary AB

Cost: $59 per ticket

Website: https://www.greyeagleresortandcasino.ca/calendar/hallloween-howler/

CJAY 92 has prepared a night of concerts with participating bands including The Headstones, Big Wreck, One Bad Son, and The Vidos! All ages are welcome, and wearing a costume while enjoying the music is encouraged— there will be prizes awarded throughout the night and the best costume gets a free trip to the Coachella Music Festival!

Maker Faire Calgary

Maker Faire featured image

When: October 27-28, 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Where: Spruce Meadows, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, Calgary AB

Cost: Single Day Pass- $12, Weekend Pass- $18 (for students & youth aged 6-17)

Website: https://calgary.makerfaire.com/makers-exhibits/

Maker Faire is an annual event that exhibits a wide variety of innovations from individuals and groups across Calgary. Participating designs come from all kinds of fields, like 3D printing, visual arts, computers, vehicles, fashion, food, and more! This large-scale “Show & Tell” event is a great way to glimpse future products and participate in activities and presentations as well. Check out their website for an extensive list of the makers and exhibits!

Dirty Laundry’s Young Company: Stranger Soaps

When: Twice monthly, October 29 from 7:30 pm

Where: Lunchbox Theatre, 160 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB

Cost: $10 for students/seniors, $16 for adults

Website: http://www.dirtylaundrycalgary.com/tng/

Dirty Laundry’s Young Company is composed of up-and-coming actors aged 13-20. Their staged soap opera for the 2017/18 season is set in a small American town where children are mysteriously disappearing. The show runs twice a month until April, so there will be other chances to tune into this completely improvised performance after the October 29 showing. However, the whole premise of the show is definitely fitting for the season!

Wishing you all a great Halloween!

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Back to Autumn: A Fall Playlist

Emily Donville
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Those closest to me are well aware of the fact that I love Autumn. Several seconds spent surveying my bedroom will corroborate this fact, what with my orange blanket, jack-o-lantern themed figures and gourds that adorn nearly every surface in my room. That being said, I recognize that Autumn isn’t for everyone. For many, the thought of shorter and darker days looms overhead and school work may be starting to pile up, causing a lot of stress and anxiety. But despair not! I’ve compiled a playlist of songs that remind me of Autumn to accompany you during your day to day activities. So sit down, plug in and listen.

Track Listing

1. Back to Autumn – Tall Heights
2. Dirty Blonde (Acoustic) – Arkells
3. Asleep – The Smiths
4. Blue Ridge Mountains – Fleet Foxes
5. Where’s My Love (Acoustic) – SYML
6. Winters Kiss – Blossoms
7. Narrow Margins – Half Moon Run
8. Autumn Leaves – Ed Sheeran
9. Only Ones Who Know – Arctic Monkeys
10. Take Care – Beach House
11. Black Mambo – Glass Animals
12. Fallingforyou – The 1975
13. Candles – Daughter
14. Seasons Run – The xx
15. Sleep Apnea – Beach Fossils
16. From the Dining Table – Harry Styles
17. Uncomfortable – Wallows
18. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings – Father John Misty
19. Fire Escape – Half Moon Run
20. Adeline – Alt-J
21. Big Black Car – Gregory Alan Isakov
22. Bela Lugosi’s Dead – Bauhaus
23. Disorder – Joy Division
24. No. 1 Party Anthem – Arctic Monkeys
25. Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde
26. Don’t Come Back Another 100 Times – Slum Sociable
27. Despair in the Departure Lounge – Arctic Monkeys
28. Everyone Requires a Plan – The Lumineers
29. Sorry – Halsey
30. Hourglass – Catfish and the Bottlemen
31. Sedona – Houndmouth
32. Free – Gabrielle Shonk
33. Riding on the Wind – The Wooden Sky
34. Lullaby – The Cure
35. Stop the World I Wanna Get Off With You – Arctic Monkeys
36. Landfill – Daughter
37. Neon Bible – Arcade Fire
38. Slide – Jake Bugg
39. Blue Light – Mazzy Star
40. Antichrist – The 1975
41. Planet Hunter – Wolf Alice
42. Heathrow – Catfish and the Bottlemen
43. Hannah Hunt – Vampire Weekend
44. Unofferable – Half Moon Run
45. K. – Cigarettes After Sex
46. Fire Escape – Foster the People

https://open.spotify.com/user/22uhrnzxzeyzop6wxqau5fwea/playlist/0Ap1k4IAgSvrKfQbKzapsd

Don’t use Spotify? Listen to it on Apple music here.

Give it a listen and feel free to comment your favorite song from the playlist. Happy Autumn!

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The World is Our Classroom: MEI 2017

Alice Choi
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It has been nearly three months since I stepped off the plane into the YYC airport, returning from the most incredible adventure of my life. Every day since then, I’ve been reminiscing about moments on the trip and wishing I could relive it. Going on a MEI trip was a truly extraordinary experience, and I will be forever grateful to be given such an amazing opportunity. 

Despite my enthusiasm about the trip now, before I signed up for the program, I was hesitant. The cost of the program is no small sum, and since I already had plans to spend the summer working to save up for university, going on MEI and spending the equivalent of first-year tuition was kind of going against my goal. However, after careful consideration and weighing out the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that going on the MEI trip would be a more valuable choice. I am extremely happy (and relieved) that I made that decision. 

If you’re stuck in that spot I was one year ago — wondering if the MEI is worth it, or intimidated by the idea of leaving home for a month to travel with a group of strangers— this post is for you. Below I have compiled just a few of the many highlights of my trip, in hopes to convince those who are hesitating to press the “Apply Now” button, to just go for it.

Paris- So the adventure begins… 

The minute we arrived at our Paris hotel and unpacked our bags, the teacher said, “Okay go get some food and meet us back here at 6.” I was taken aback from this comment for several reasons.

  1. I have never set foot in Europe until that day.
  2. The only words I knew in French were “bonjour” and “merci,” which I couldn’t even say without a heavy I-am-definetely-not-from-here accent.
  3. My classmates were still basically strangers, given that I didn’t know any of their names.

Taking all this into consideration, going out to “get some food” was definitely not as casual as they made it sound. However, I was certainly not opposed to the idea of wandering Paris, so we formed a group and we set off in search of a French bakery.

This level of freedom and independence stayed consistent throughout the trip. We were allowed to explore the cities we were in during our designated free time between lunch and dinner every day. It was the little adventures we had in these moments— where we were free to go as we pleased in an unfamiliar city of infinite possibilities—that made the trip truly memorable.

Wouldn’t want to be welcomed to Paris any other way. This was the first of many Paris bakeries seven very hungry Canadians wandered their way into.

London- Doughnuts and Telephone Booths 

Although every single location we travelled to was exciting and has a special place in my heart, London takes the prize of my favourite city of the trip. Maybe it was because of my childhood dreams of living in London, but I immediately fell in love with the city.

On our last day in London, we spent the entire day exploring and checking everything off of our London bucket list. It was days like these that made me so grateful to have gone on this MEI trip. There is nothing more fulfilling than discovering and experiencing the world alongside your closest friends.

Doughnuts from Bread Ahead , supposedly the “Best Doughnuts in London.” After walking around in several circles, asking confused cafe workers, interrogating a kind lady, and waiting twenty minutes, we finally hunted down these tasty treats.

 

After asking five people that each gave us completely different directions, we successfully made it to Abbey Road. We had to quick in our attempts of re-creating the Beatle’s album cover because there were pedestrians waiting to cross and cars approaching in every direction. Therefore, if I look a bit tense, it’s because I was just a bit worried for our safety.

 

London sightseeing antics. We managed to squish six of us in one telephone booth and we shared a proud moment over our small victory.

 

The Tower Bridge was absolutely stunning, and the clear blue sky made the view even more exceptional. Dear London, you have stole my heart.

Lake District- A Note about Morning Workout

Every morning of the trip, unless the weather prohibited, we would start the day with a morning workout. I know the word “workout” may cause you to cringe, especially when it’s paired up with “7:00 am,” but I could assure you that it will be okay. It not only wakes you up and gets you energized for the adventure-filled day ahead, but also provides a very special glimpse of the world, exclusive to only those who rise with the sun. Paris has a completely new face when it is stripped of the evening tourists crowding its streets, and the scenic lake view is made even more breathtaking with the morning sun is reflecting off the surface. If this is not enough to convince you, and you still despise the thought of 7:00 am workouts, how mad can you really get at ultimate frisbee in front of the Louvre, yoga with a picture-perfect view of Buttermere Lake, and hikes overlooking Edinburgh?

Edinburgh- Bittersweet Endings 

Our journey came to a close at Edinburgh, Scotland. Knowing our days together were limited,  we made sure to treasure every moment with the friends we have made. From creating a “Getting Lost in Edinburgh” video series (just to document the countless times we found ourselves lost in the streets of Scotland), to cooking gourmet Tesco pasta dinners, to obnoxiously singing “All Time Low” in our dorm kitchen, the final days in Edinburgh were spent wisely.

By the end of the three weeks, we have all created lifelong memories and friendships that will not be easily forgotten. MEI was more than an academic program, but an experience that helped us to grow more independent, confident, and willing to take more risks. I will, without a doubt, look back fondly at Summer ’17 for many many more years to come.

Remember, the world is your classroom, and it is waiting for you to uncover all it has to offer.

What To See In Calgary this weekend

Annie Wang
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The Fibre Shindig

Date: Oct 21, 2017

Winter is coming and the weather is getting cooler. It is time to stock up on cozy fibre goods to stay warm. At this annual Fibre Shindig this weekend, local artisans will be selling items such as hand-dyed yarn, fibre tools, embroidery and handmade accessories like mittens.

For more information, visit: http://www.fibreshindig.com/

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $5 admission

Location: 

Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre
1320 5 Ave. N.W.
Calgary, AB

Haunted House Hamlet

Date: Oct 20 to Oct 22

Holloween is coming soon. For one weekend only, Theatre Canmore and the Artists’ Collective Theatre will be staging Haunted House Hamlet, an adaptation that follows the story of a young boy named Jimmy after he meets Hamlet in a haunted house. Ready to experience William Shakespeare’s famous play in a whole new way?

Times:
Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit: theatrecanmore.com

Cost: $15

Location: 

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 8 Ave.
Canmore, AB

 Aspen Crossing’s Train of Terror

Date: Oct 6 to Oct 28

There are a lot of haunted house going on in Calgary this month because of Halloween. But I think it would be really fun and special to step onto the Train of Terror and experience everything from haunted railway cars to eerie entertainment.  You will also experience fog effects, tight spaces, and close encounters with actors. The trip is about 90 minutes and recommended for adults.

Times:
The train departs at 5, 7 and 9 p.m.

For more information, visit: trainofterror.com

 Cost: $66

Location: 

Aspen Crossing
1 km west of Mossleigh, AB on Hwy. 24
Mossleigh, AB

Palette Fine Art Show and Sale

Date: Oct 21

Pick out a piece of artwork for your home decoration for winter and fall at this show and sale. There will be many types of fine art such as watercolors, mixed media and more. All the amazing arts are created by more than 50 local artists. There will also be live art demonstrations at the event, so it will be a good time to learn some skills.

Times: 
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit: facebook.com

Location:

Triwood Community Association
2244 Chicoutimi Dr. N.W.
Calgary

Image source:1/2/3/4/5

 

Why You Should Do Your Best

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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It’s that time of the year again. That time when all of the motivation you had at the beginning of the school year is starting to wear off. That time when assignments are piling up and procrastination is increasing, when you realize that nothing has changed from last year. That time when the stress is becoming noticeable.

You may be asking yourself if there is a point in even trying to succeed. Maybe you’re convinced that it’s impossible to get a decent grade because your English teacher marks too harshly. What’s the point in trying to produce good work when you’ll probably forget about it in a few months? Why should you even try to learn when you will probably never use it in the “real world”. Well, I am here to tell you that it’s not exactly about what you do, but more about how and why you do it.

It’s easy to complete work that is of a mediocre quality, not to the best of your ability. But what is the point in settling for inadequacy? What are you learning this way? The way you work now is how you will be working in the future. The way you deal with problems now is the way you will deal with problems down the road. You might as well set yourself up for success early on. What is important is that you do your best. This will be different for every person. What “your best” is will even change for you; doing your best when you are sick versus when you are healthy will look completely different. It is this mindset for constant improvement that is significant in life. It’s true that the assignment that you are currently stressing about may be forgotten soon, but it’s the effort that you put in that will end up being the most important in the long run. This can apply to anything that you do.

Sure, it’s possible that outside of the classroom you will never use the math you are learning. The mark you get on a project may not matter at all. It’s not about the actual material you are taught. The most important things are learnt during the “journey”. Think about it: have you ever been taught how to work with other people? Probably not. You were probably put with other people and you all had to work together to create a project. Maybe you barely knew these people. Maybe you didn’t like these people. Even though you may have forgotten what the project was about, what stays is the skills you learned while collaborating with others. This is much easier and more effective when you are willing to do your best.

I hope that this has maybe motivated you for at least a short while. Good luck!

Image source: 1

Countdown

Aaron Wen
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Ten,

To the stories that begin and never end,

To the ones who walk to the end of an endless tunnel.

To those who have hope in hopeless,

To the ones who walk forward.

 

Nine,

Not the moment when we met,

Not the place where we cried,

Not the teardrops of the rain,

Not the time you left me.

 

Eight,

Every day turns to night,

Every light withers to dark,

Every picture I see of you,

Every time, it comes back again.

 

Seven,

So much power you had at your fingertips,

So much control you had over me.

So much I gave up for you,

So much pain lingers in my heart.

 

Six,

Since that day you left me,

Since that evening in the rain,

Since the times of my control,

Since the teardrops in the rain, I have changed.

 

Five,

For every loss I made, I recover.

For every time I cried, the tears dry away.

For every moment I needed you, I stood again.

For all the times I had with you, I am better now.

 

Four,

Forever will I thank you for your love,

Forever will I thank you for breaking me down,

Forever will I grow with the thought of you,

Forever I never make the same mistake again.

 

Three,

Today, is the worst day.

Today, I see across the longest river,

Today, you come across again in my path,

Today, I see the sky fall yet again.

 

Two,

Too much.

Too many mistakes have been made.

Too much suffering have you dragged me through,

Too much love has been whispered to smoke.

 

One,

One chance to make it happen.

One opportunity to turn back the clock.

One moment can change everything…

 

I can’t.

A countdown never goes backwards.

Life never goes backwards.

What Makes Some Games Scary?

Marcus Chung
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Halloween is right around the corner, and there is no more appropriate time to talk about fear. The origin of the holiday is literally people trying to scare away the things that scare them. Back on the topic of fear, I recently played the scariest, most stressful, and downright traumatizing game  I’ve never had the joy of repeatedly dying in any game other than Bloodborne;  Hollow Knight. It was a great action game… Wait, action game? Didn’t I say it was really scary? Yes I did. The game may not have been made to instill fear in the player, but truth be told, it was far scarier than any “horror” game I’ve ever seen or played. To be perfectly honest, the only time I’ve ever felt more anxiety than when playing through Hollow Knight was when I totally didn’t procrastinate and had to write a blog post at 3:00 am because it was due the next day. Saying this, I didn’t really understand why I found this game scarier than others. It wasn’t that violent, nor did it have a super creepy story or characters, but it did have three things going for it that set up a pretty traumatic playthrough; the difficulty of the game, the sound design, and the art.

Starting things off, Hollow Knight isn’t that hard aside from certain locations and bosses. If you’ve played the game, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, then the general difficulty of the game comes from its downright sadistic enemy placement, along with it requiring a lot of quick movements and reflexes. Otherwise, it’s not too hard. You know a game isn’t too difficult when I can beat it. But personally, when I hear “sadistic enemy placement” and “needs good reflexes”, I would guess that the game has a lot of unwanted surprises. The game does, in fact, have too many unwanted surprises. The game developers being constantly out to make your life miserable, and the constant threat of death changes you. It changes you real bad. You start being paranoid. Scared every time you enter a room. Jumping at every. Little. Noise. You. Hear. And it’s amazing! Anyways, the topic of noise brings me to sound design.

First things first. The soundtrack of Hollow Knight is downright phenomenal. A good soundtrack is supposed to immerse you in the game’s environment, as well as sound really good, and Hollow Knight’s OST by Christopher Larkin kills it in both of those criteria. However, it’s not the quality of the music that makes the game scary and stressful. It was how it was used in tandem with the sound effects and ambient noises. No game is scary all the time, especially one that isn’t even a horror game, so the majority of Hollow Knight is spent running around and killing stuff with moderately cheery music playing in the background. Then stuff happens, people start eating each other, and spiders. There is an entire area dedicated to spiders. Spider enemies, spider bosses, spider NPCs. It’s at this point where the sound design picks up. The music gets more ominous, there are constant sounds of living, moving, hungry things in the background, and sometimes the music just cuts out for dramatic effect. This change happens when you begin to see the darker side of the game’s story, and the two work together really nicely to create a sinister atmosphere.

A king without subjects.

The game’s transition is even scarier. The charming hand-drawn animation style is used to show a lighter and darker side of the same coin. The artist uses a lot of black and grey combined with desolate scenery to make the player feel alone, and the feeling of being alone when everything else in the world is actively trying to kill you is not a nice feeling. The messed-up enemy design is focused around bugs, with all the nice little bug quirks that include them eating each other and being parasitical.

Overall, there are a lot of factors that make a game scary. Difficulty, story, enemy design, the fact that I usually play during the knight (pun intended). There are simply too many to detail them all without doing a full-on analysis. The game developers of Hollow Knight did a fantastic job creating the world of their game, and this article barely does it justice. Other than the artsy, intellectual side of the game people like me fail to comprehend, the actual gameplay is fantastic and I would recommend giving it a try if you’re into that kind of thing.

 

Here is the cheery song I was talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXga9y0B3I

And here’s the darker one. Can you hear the change?

 

 

All the pictures can be found below. None belong to me.

Featured Photo

First photo

Second photo

 

How to Get Work Done

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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If you’re like me, you probably procrastinate on getting work done every once in a while. You might even be procrastinating right now. Here I will share with you three things that I have found useful to help me complete my work.

  1. Remove distractions. You have probably already been told this many times, but this is one of the most important things that you can do to increase your productivity. Close any tabs on all electronic devices that are not essential to the task. Go to an area where you can get your work done without other people bothering you. If it helps with blocking out surrounding noise, listen to music. Just be careful not to get distracted by the music. A Soft Murmur is a great resource if you would like something to minimize the sounds in your surrounding environment, where you can choose to have different amounts of various nature sounds playing.
  2. Start working. Although this may seem obvious, this is often the hardest part of completing the work. The project may seem so big that it is easier to just put it off for another day. You can start by dividing the work into smaller, more manageable tasks. Then, tell yourself to start working for a short amount of time, about 15 minutes or so. 15 minutes of working doesn’t sound too bad, right? When you are able to complete the small tasks and start working for a short amount of time, you are more likely to keep going because you have already accomplished something.
  3. Work for as long as you can without taking a break. What I have found to be one of the most detrimental things for my productivity is taking a “short” break. It is very easy for what was intended to be a 5-minute break to run for 50 minutes long. All of the passion that you had as you were beginning to really get into the work that was fueled by the desire to realize your ideas can disappear in a flash if you start to do something else and become uninterested.

 

Nobody is superhuman. It is not fair to expect yourself to be able to get everything done quickly and all at once. Instead of giving up at the thought of the enormity of the endeavor, all that is needed is a bit of planning and perseverance in order to complete it. Good luck!

Image source: 1

Culture Shock 2k17

~ Chu ☆ ~
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My time as a YVC volunteer has brought me pretty much everywhere: summer camps, green team events, Alberta Ballet, and now, a break-dance battle?

That’s right, last Saturday, I was lucky enough to volunteer at Culture Shock 2017, a youth driven art event celebrating culture and community, held at the Genesis Center.

(source)

If you know me at all, you would know that hip hop isn’t exactly my scene. I am probably the last person you would expect to be at a Bboy/girl battle. Being an introvert who gets headaches from loud music and cheering, my normal Saturday night would have honestly been spent in my room, listening to a French Disney playlist (like this one!), while procrastinating on homework.

Yet, Saturday evening, there I was, straying from my standard weekend night, and joining in all the “cool” kids at Culture Shock!

Of course, I know little to nothing about hip hop, or breakdancing, or anything to do with urban culture (the extent of my knowledge stems from the hip-hop class my elementary school offered, when they taught all the 1st graders to bounce our knees, and vaguely swing our arms, and maybe butcher a very slow “coffee grinder”?), but luckily, it didn’t matter, because the energy in the room was absolutely infectious. And it wasn’t long before I was cheering, and whooping along with everyone else.

Courtesy of the Antyx Community Arts facebook page

Despite being clueless about anything technical going on, everything looked, as I would come to say in the 20 million snapchats being constantly updated to my story, “hella fly”. As far as I could tell, limbs were flying, and hats were flipping off, and everything looked incredible. I had so much respect for all the time, and effort everyone clearly put into mastering this art.

The event went above and beyond my expectations. It was absolutely amazing spending a night getting to watch all these amazing youth artists in their element (including some very adorable kids!), and it left me incredibly wistful that I, unfortunately, don’t have a single rhythmic bone in me.

The evening started with a showcase, where all teams had the chance to show off their talents. Then, while the judges picked the top 16 teams, they held a cypher, basically a free for all circle where anyone could dance, or freestyle on the mic (as I’m sure all the Hip Teens™ would say, some sick beats were dropped). The battle began. A 16 team bracket was drawn up (courtesy of yours truly!), and things started to get serious.

Courtesy of the Antyx Community Arts facebook page

If I wasn’t impressed during the showcase, my jaw was dropped now. Each team was so talented, and it was captivating seeing how everyone was so unique, and quick on their feet. Competition was fierce. We saw amazing individuals, and unbelievable teams, and there were quite a few draws, it was so hard for the judges to decide!

After some tough rounds, and a little interlude of featured dancers, it was time for finals. It all came down to the Mighty Wookie Arms versus the Floor Convicts.

Final battle getting heated. Coolest part about being in charge of brackets? Getting front row seats to all the battles.

Following an intense battle, we had a winner. The Floor Convicts left it all on the floor, and traded it for two incredibly cool medals (!!), bringing us to the end of an amazing night.

The reigning champions with their very valuable medals! (Courtesy of Antyx Community Arts)

I was amazed by how different it was from what I was expecting. Though I might not know break-dancing, I know music, and I absolutely adored that the DJs didn’t just use the typical rap music I thought I would be listening to, instead bringing in funk, jazz, and latin elements. The music had everyone grooving, especially the DJs, who, dare I say were the most hype of all.

Rejecting the common stereotype of rude teenage Bboys/girls, there was no trash talking and no shade. The environment was phenomenal, with nothing but pure energy and support. I found it impossible to not get hyped up with everyone else, and you could almost feel the buzz in the air.

All in all, Culture Shock was an amazing experience, and is definitely up on my list of favorite volunteer projects! But the best part? Even if you missed the event, or you just want to see everything again, all the battles were video taped, and you can find them here. Better yet, there’s a break-dancing competition in Medicine Hat coming up on October 21 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. You can find more information about that here. Hope to see y’all out there!

(featured image courtesy of Antyx Community Arts)

All the Ways to Cook Eggs (Part 1)

RunLin Wang
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I know that this isn’t the typical post that you would find on YAA, but I was truly inspired to do this. I woke up in the morning and I had to make myself some breakfast. Since it was the weekend, I decided to try and make some eggs. But I wanted something extraordinary, something unique that could be made using eggs. And so I took to the Internet. I was fascinated by all the different ways that eggs could be made, and the inner foodie within me came out. I actually ended up running out of time due to my perusing through recipes and I ate some simple milk and cereal instead. Here’s some of the amazing recipes that I found online for eggs.

Scrambled

Scrambled eggs are one of the most classic ways that you can cook eggs. It’s incredibly easy to do as well: you just crack some eggs into a bowl, whisk them, scramble them in the pan, and then you season them. Classic. Can’t go wrong.

However, you can take it over-the-top; just take a look at how Gordon Ramsay makes scrambled eggs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUP7U5vTMM0

 

Sunny-Side Up

These are really simple eggs to make, but if done right, they can truly taste like a delicacy. The trick is to get the yolk in the center done just right: not too runny, not overcooked. I’ve been making these for as long as I can remember, and this recipe is probably the best combination of simplicity and taste:

 

Hardboiled Eggs

Hardboiled eggs are probably the easiest to cook. All you do is stick them into a boiling pot of water, and you take them out after a couple minutes. Depending on how well done you want the yolk to be, you can leave them in the pot for a shorter or longer duration.

You can also make hardboiled eggs have a lot of special flavours. One traditional Chinese way of eating hardboiled eggs is to crack the eggshells and add them to boiled tea. That way, the flavour of the tea can get into the eggs. These “tea eggs” are great to have with other Asian foods, and they can serve as a standalone snack on road trips or while travelling.

 

Omelettes

While everything else mentioned so far has just been purely eggs, omelettes incorporate many different flavours into the egg. Want chives? Just add them. Looking for a zesty taste? Dice up some tomatoes. There’s so many ways to personalize omelettes, it’s really quite impressive.

I’ve added a video below, which shows the “tea egg” and an omelette made with lobster. In addition, there’s a third recipe, a truffle egg. It’s really satisfying to watch the yolk of the egg just being cracked open, and all that gooey goodness just flowing out.

 

This is only part 1 of how to cook eggs, due to all the different types that there are! Next time, I’ll write about some more recipes, like eggs benedict and poached eggs, and maybe even include a video of me trying to cook eggs myself!

 

References:

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Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth. YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them. Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.

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